subject: Safety Hazards In A Kitchen Workplace [print this page] You might not think it but a kitchen can actually be a very dangerous place to work whether you are a chef or a waiter, simply due to the seemingly innocuous but actually dangerous equipment contained in this environment.
Chefs, for example, should be given detailed safety instructions within the kitchen as they will be using and handling dangerous equipment and everything could potentially be a hazard. Not only is there the threat of bad food hygiene, but also sharp objects and hot temperatures.
Firstly, the chefs should be properly trained to handle knives and other chopping equipment as these are the most common injuries in a kitchen. If a chef is injured, they should be accompanied to the first aid kit where they can wash it whilst a fellow worker can apply the blue plaster the plaster must be blue to ensure that if it were to fall off, it is easy to spot and remove.
As is the case in any kitchen environment, workers should be wary of the cooking equipment as anything can lead to burns, from a simple slip of a tray to spilt soup. In these situations, the health and safety officer should handle the issue and make a note of it in the safety workbook.
Chefs and waiters should be trained to not bring certain items into the kitchen, the most important of which being a lighter. There have been a number of horror stories from kitchen environments, such as a chef dropping the lighter into the deep fat fryer this could have been a serious injury had it not been for a brave, if somewhat foolhardy, chef plunging his hand in to retrieve it. He received serious burns to his hand, but managed to avoid a far more serious issue.
There are also issues of the floor being slippery due to splashed food, spilt oil or just general water collecting on the floor. It is vital that proper footwear is worn in this environment, such as simple pumps with good grip and if there are any falls, that they are reported and the workers are attended to.
Whilst the kitchen can be a vibrant and energetic place to work, it is undoubtedly dangerous and should never be rushed through, no matter how busy it gets, as serious injuries can be sustained in such an environment. As with everything, take your time and stay safe and you need not face any worry.
